Sobering Stats

Not Our Neighbourhood...

"Hagibis" is now our least-favourite word in Tagalag. It's the second of two typhoons in three weeks that came straight at Tokyo. In our 32 years in Japan, we've never experienced this, and now two in such a short time.

Our neighbourhood is high and dry with electricity and water, but as you see from the news, many are not. Since we've been getting e mail inquiries, we just wanted to let you know that we're okay. There is a lot of work to be done in areas like the one pictured above, however.

Our Old Neighbourhood

When we first arrived in Japan 32 years ago, we lived in this area, and our daughters all attended the school featured at the end of this video. You get a good sense of what life's like in the suburbs.

J-Pop

The name "J-Pop" makes sense, since it's pop music from Japan, although it seems "K-Pop" from Korea has eclipsed it.

The names of J-Pop groups however, do not make a lot of sense.

Of course "slime" is misspelled. It's like the "Beatles", I guess.

So, can you come up with a better name? 

Mind if We Brag a Little?

This culinary class was Heather's idea, and she shopped for it, planned for it and taught it. Come September, Heather won't be teaching it. She'll move on to her next assignment as mother to a newborn. 

Where is Your Stuff?

It was a question I answered often while in Canada. "Do you continue renting your apartment in Tokyo?" No, since it can't be sublet, and the rent is too high to pay when we're not there. So, our belongings went into a moving truck out to the suburbs, where several vacant lots have been paved and containers have been stacked up to provide storage space. We rented a 20 foot container. Everything fit with space to spare (a little) and in this picture the movers are taking it all out again to move back down to Tokyo Bay for us. 

Note the name of the moving company. "Good Job" did a good job of being the lowest bidder.

Doing it the Natural Way

This is the library in Yamanakako. Notice the beams.

A New Post

Here's another post on this blog!

It's a no-maintenance post, perfect for the 100% humidity of the area. How do they get the wood to be so perfect?

If it gets bumped too hard, the secret is out. Steel pipe coated in textured concrete. Artificial rustic ambiance, only in Japan (and maybe Disneyland, too)

Omiyage

One of our presentations references this particular omiyage, or gift to bring back from a trip away from home. Strawberry cheesecake flavoured Kit Kat bars in the Mt. Fuji shaped box. We had a chance to visit Laura at Yamanakako where she's working for the summer, and traveled to Hakone, a famous tourist area and found this.

Tokyo At Night

Some great photographs of the city!

https://designyoutrust.com/2019/05/photographer-jun-yamamoto-captures-the-magic-of-japan-streets-at-night/?fbclid=IwAR2goSY9TUptTIVJY4M5fj_TxpFBfYw076Zox5QLusMaLv97IhLRGGDrkOQ

The Christian & Missionary Alliance in Japan

https://www.facebook.com/greatcommission/videos/2358227240902146/

You'll see Arthur Rouzer, who's giving pastoral leadership to Shiohama, in the final scene of this video.

Meanwhile, Back in Tokyo...

It's cherry blossom season, and it's especially long this year. This is just north of our neighbourhood, near Kiyosumi Shirakawa, which is a coffee roasting area. There are coffee tours of the area.

They're Coming, Right to Our Neighbourhood!

How to Pray for Japan

Naruhodo!

Naruhodo! means "Now I understand!" and you'll come to understand Japanese spirituality from this wordless but profound video.

Speaking People's Cultural Language

This presents the message of Jesus to those living in a culture of honour and shame, like the Japanese people, and 65% of the world's population, and 90% of the unreached people of the world. 

A Friend in Need...

Click->A great summary of the Christian response to the 2011 tsunami